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The main dish, Chic bistro

Honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes

Honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes is a dish for 6 people that takes 30 minutes of active work. The glaze and the mashed potatoes are made in the morning, leaving only the cooking to do right before guests arrive. It's easy and costs €5.40 per person, and the key is adding the glaze only in the very last minutes of cooking.

A crispy duck breast glazed with honey and soy, with an olive oil mashed potatoes, simple but really chic.

Honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes
For
6 people
Work
30 min
Total time
1 h 10
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€5.40
Calories per person
860 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Glazed duck breast plays on a sharp contrast, crispy caramelized skin on one side, tender pink meat on the other. Honey and soy sauce bring that sweet and salty balance that makes glazed duck so good, lifted by a touch of fresh ginger. The olive oil mashed potatoes with chives stay deliberately rustic, no cream or butter, so the glaze remains the real star of the plate.

This is a great dish for a dinner party with friends or a slightly dressed up family meal, bistro chic without the fuss. It works well in fall and winter as much as in spring, and fits nicely into a menu with a light starter before and a simple dessert after, since all the actual work goes into the duck and the mash.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 2 steps
  3. Before the guests arrive 3 steps, 41 min
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step, 5 min

Make the glaze and score the duck skin in the morning, it only takes a few minutes and frees up the rest of the day. Right before your guests arrive, cook the mashed potatoes, then pan sear the duck breasts and glaze them in the last two minutes. At serving time, all that's left is slicing the meat and plating it with the pan juices.

The ingredients

6 people

Butcher

  • Duck breasts 3

Pantry

  • Honeyoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Balsamic vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 6 tbsp
  • Fleur de seloften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Fresh ginger 20 g
  • Waxy potatoes 1.2 kg
  • Chives 1 bunch

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Mix the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and grated ginger together for the glaze.

    Taste it, it should be as sweet as it is salty.

  2. Score the duck skin in a crosshatch pattern, without cutting into the meat.

    A well scored skin lets the fat render and turns nicely crisp.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Cook the peeled potatoes in salted water, then mash them coarsely with a fork along with the olive oil, chives and fleur de sel. 25 min

    Keep them a little lumpy, that's the charm of a mash like this.

  2. Place the duck breasts skin side down in a cold pan, turn the heat to medium and let the fat render for ten minutes, then flip and cook four more minutes. 14 min

    Pour off the fat from the pan now and then, it keeps the skin crisp.

  3. Pour the glaze into the pan over the duck breasts for two minutes, turning them to coat. 2 min

    Watch closely, as soon as the glaze turns glossy, it's ready.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Let the duck breasts rest for five minutes, slice them thin and serve with the mash. 5 min

    Spoon the remaining glaze from the pan over the slices.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick duck breasts that are thick and similar in size so they all cook at the same pace in the pan.
  • Always let the meat rest before slicing it, otherwise the juices run out and the meat turns dry.
  • Make the glaze a bit ahead and taste it, it should coat a spoon without being too thick, or it will burn faster in the pan.

The variations

  • Swap the fresh ginger for a pinch of five spice powder for a rounder, warmer flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version of the menu, serve the mashed potatoes with roasted squash slices glazed in honey and soy instead of the duck.
  • For kids, set aside some glaze without ginger and serve less peppered duck slices with just the mash.

What to serve it with

  • A walnut and lamb's lettuce salad to start
  • A glass of light pinot noir
  • A simple apple tart for dessert

Storage

Leftovers keep for two days in the fridge in a sealed container, duck and mash stored separately. Reheat the meat gently in a pan over low heat so it doesn't toughen, and warm the mash in the microwave with a drizzle of olive oil. This dish doesn't freeze well, the texture of the duck would suffer.

Questions about this recipe

How do you know when the duck breast is cooked right?

Cook it skin side down for ten minutes, then four minutes on the flesh side for a classic medium pink result. Press the meat lightly, it should still feel springy, which means it's not overcooked.

Can you swap the soy sauce for something else to avoid gluten?

Yes, a gluten free soy sauce or tamari works perfectly and keeps the same sweet and salty balance. The final taste barely changes.

What's the best way to plate the duck slices?

Slice on a diagonal about half an inch thick and fan the slices over the mashed potatoes. Spoon the remaining glaze from the pan over them right before serving.

How many duck breasts do I need for a bigger group?

Count about half a duck breast per person, so three breasts are plenty for six guests alongside a generous mash. For eight people, you'll need four breasts.

Can a honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 30 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 2 steps, before the guests arrive, 3 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes?

Allow 1 h 10 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 30 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in a honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes?

About 860 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a honey glazed duck breast with mashed potatoes cost?

About €5.40 per person, that's €32.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

To round out your menu

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